Bearing cleaner



p 1953 c. D. SCHUCHMAN ET AL 2,652,343

BEARING CLEANER Filed NOV. 16. 1949 INVENTORS Car] D.SC 7UC 7177GH andBY cmwm Theirggenf' R z'chard S. France is provided with a centrallongitudinal bore whereby said plug may be installed removably upon theportion of drive shaft l| extending through the bearing race 22. Theplug is proportioned and arranged to fit closely about the drive shaft Hin such manner that rotation of the latter causes simultaneous rotationof the plug. This is accomplished in the structure shown in Figure 1 byproviding a square shaft H and a complementary square hole in the plug24. Other means for accomplishin this purpose will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

The plug is proportioned and arranged to extend through the centralopening of the bearing 23 to be cleaned and to hold the latter inengagement with the race 22. As shown in Figure l of the drawing, theplug 24 engages the inner removable race of the ball bearing 23.Sufiicient frictional contact between the plug and inner race isproduced to cause said inner race to rotate with the plug as the driveshaft is turned. Similar action is obtained when a roller-type bearingis installed for cleaning. When the detachable inner race of a ballbearing is removed, a larger plug is used to engage the balls. Rotationof the plug thereby causes the several balls to turn in their sockets.

Means is also provided to insure against retraction of the plug duringthe cleaning operation. Many methods and devices for accomplishing thisfunction will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and therefore themeans illustrated in the drawing is to be considered as merelyexemplary. Said holding means comprises a coil spring 25 which slidablyencircles the exposed end of the squared shaft H. One end of said springabuts against the base of the plug 24, while the opposite end of thespring engages a notch 26 formed adjacent the end of the shaft H. Inthis manner the spring continually urges the plug into firm contact withthe bearing 23 to be cleaned.

The modification shown in drawing represents an alternative form of thebearing race 22 described hereinbefore. In the modification, the bearingrace 21 is formed in the shape of a truncated cone but is longer thanthe race 22 previously described. The smaller end 28 of the race isthreaded internally for removable attachment to the end of cylinderShoulder 29, formed at the base of said internal threads, and theadjacent end of cylinder secures the discs l2, l3 therebetween. The race21 extends beyond the end of drive shaft i and is notched about itslarger end to provide legs 30, in manner similar to that of legs 2|provided on the shield 29. In this manner the former shield iseliminated and the structure is thereby Figure 4 of the The operation ofthe device embodying the present invention is as follows: Assuming, forpurposes of this description, that the bearing 23 shown in Figures 1 and4 of the drawing has just been cleaned and is to be removed. The spring25 is disengaged from the notch 26 and is removed from the end of driveshaft Plug 24 is then pulled or allowed to drop from the shaft,whereupon the bearing 23 is also removed. Another bearing 23 to becleaned is then placed in the race 22 or 21, as shown, and the plug 24and spring 25 installed in the manner explained hereinbefore.

The device is then placed vertically within an open container ofcleaning fluid, sufficient liquid being available to cover theopeningsformed between the legs 2| or 30. The operator grasps the handle4 and moves it and the attached piston rod 3 up and down. On the upwardstroke,- piston 9 pushes air outwardly through openin H1 in cap 2 andpulls cleaning fluid upwardly between the race 22 or 21 and the plug 24,through the slots it of the discs l2, l3 and into the cyl-' inder Ibelow the piston 9. The fluid is thereby caused to pass around each ballor roller of the bearing being cleaned.

Simultaneously with the drawing of cleaning fluid upwardly through thebearing 23, the upward movement of piston rod 3 causes the pin |8secured therein to travel upwardly along the spiral groove |1 formed inthe drive shaft I. The

latter is thus caused to rotate axially, whereby corresponding rotationof the plug 24 effects a turning of the balls or rollers of the bearingbeing cleaned. Rotation of said balls or rollers durin washing by thecleaning fluid expedites the cleaning operation and results in morethorough cleansing. The downward stroke of piston 9 causes the cleaningfluid to be pushed downwardly throughthe bearing into the container andreverses the direction of rotation of drive shaft II.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes may bemade in the construction of th bearing cleaner described hereinbeforewithout departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.For example, various arrangements equivalent to the hollow piston rodtube 3 and drive shaft may be substituted for the structure shown in thedrawing. The tube 3 may be grooved internally in spiral manner andengaged by a pin projecting from the drive shaft H. Alternatively, thedrive shaft may be formed of a flat rod twisted longitudinally in spiralmanner and engaged between detents formed in the hollow tube 3.

The leather piston 9 may be replaced by a ring-type piston or othermeans by which the action described hereinbefore may be obtained.Mechanical means may be substituted for the hand operation ifportability of the device is not required. The apertured discs I2, i3may be secured to the cylinder l and the collar [5 rendered detachablefrom the drive shaft by means of a set screw. Other methods of securingthe drive shaft against longitudinal movement will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

The legs 2i or 30 may be omitted from the shield 20 or race 21,respectively, if other means is provided for holding the latter abovethe bottom of the cleaner fluid container during operation of thedevice. Inasmuch as the primary function of the spaced legs 2| or 30 isto provide openings for the passage of cleaning fluid to and from thebearing cleaner, it is apparent that means other than said legs may beemployed. For example, the shield 20 or race 21 may be provided withapertures adjacent their respective bases. Alternatively, the base ofsaid shield or race may be fluted or scalloped circumferentially inorder to provide the desired openings. It is intended, therefore, thatthe term apertured as used in this regard in the appended claims beconstrued to include the openings formed by the spaced legs, theapertures adjacent the bases, the scalloped or fluted bases and anyother construction capable of providing the function describedhereinbefore.

As stated hereinbefore, means other than the coil spring 25 maybeemployed to hold the plug 24 releasably in engagementwiththe bearingbeing: cleaned. and DQ110161. Said; beaming; if! dim:- tactwiththeracelzd or 1-1:. The Squared shaft H upon which the-plug ismounted may be of (21111011.- lar or other crosssectional: shape; it.being. necessary only to provide: means; for insuring:releasiable'attachment of the pluggin such. manner that rotation: of thedrive: shaft causes simultaneous rotation, of the plug; If; desired. thecylinder land; bearing race. 21. maybeformed; as, an: integral unit. lhese. and other modifications; maybe made in the: structure. describedheneinbefore without departing; from. the; scope; and spirit: of the.present. invention.

Having thus. described: our;- invention. and the manner in. which thesamemay: be; used. what we. claim as new: and. desire. to secure byHetters Patent is:

A bearing: cleaner comprising; in; combination, acylinder, a.- flaredconical: race: on; one. end of? said; cylinder;. a piston: movable:longitudinally in: said; cylinder, a. piston rod for. reciprocating the;piston within. said. cylinder, a drive: shaft mounted: for axial;rotation within; said; cylinder and terminating at. one end. adjacentthe. race, interengaging: means: on the cylinder and drive shaft forrestricting their relative; longitudinal displacement, spiral. meansslidably. connecting said; piston rod and said drive; shaft, wherebylongitudinal. movement. of" the piston rod causes axial. rotation of.said drive shaft, and. bearingengaging: means. mounted; on: the end? of"the drive. shaft adjacent the; race". for: rotation. with said; driveshaft, said: bearing-engaging means extending into. the. race and:being; adopted to hold: a. bearing in contact: with. the: conical race.

2. A portable bearing: cleaner comprising; in combination, a. cylinder",2; flared conical race on. one end. of said. cylinder,. a piston movablelongitudinally: in said: cylinder; .2: piston rod, han.-. dle means onesaid piston, rod. for reciprocating the piston. within: said: cylinder,a. drive shaft mounted for axial: rotation. within. said. cylinder and.terminating; at; one end; adjacent the; race, interengaging. means onthe, cylinder and. drive shaft. for restricting theirrelatiyelongitudinal displacement, spiral means: slidably; connecting said.piston rod: and said. drive.- shaft, whereby longitudinal. movement.- ofthe: piston; rod; causes axial; rotation. of said drive: shaft, and;bearing engaging. meansmounted: on the, end; of. the drive shaftadjacent the race for rotation with said drive; shaft, saidbearingrengaging means extending into. the race. and being adapted tohold a bearing in contact with the conical race.

3 ;;A1 bearing cleaner comprising, combination, a cylinder, a flared.conicalrace secured detachably on one end of said cylinder, a piston,movable longitudinally in said'cylinder, a, piston rod for reciprocatingthe piston within. said; cylinder; a; drive shaft mounted 'rem-oyably;for; axial rotation withinsaidcylinder and terminating at onei endadjacent the race, interengaging' means onthe cylinder and drive shaft".for restricting their relative longitudinal displacement, spiral means,slidably connecting said piston. rod and.

drive shaft, whereby longitudinal movement of the" piston rod causes"axial rotation, of; said drive shaft, and bearing-engaging'meansmountedon the end of the drive shaft adjacent the race for rotation with saiddrive shaft, said bearing-engaging means extending into the race andbeing adapted to hold a bearing in contact with the conical race.

4. A bearing cleaner comprising, in combination, a cylinder, a flaredconical race on one end or saidcrliiidif'z. a piston notatie longitliedinally s d. cy inder. a: piston rod for neciprm eatin the: piston,within. said cylinder; a. drive shaft mounted: for axialrqtationa withinsaid 0511- inder and race, interengaging means; on. the cylinder anddrive: shaft for restricting their: relative longitudinal displacement,spiralmeans slide ably connecting said piston rod, and. said: driveshaft, whereby: longitudinal movement Off the piston rodcauses; axialrotation. of said; drive shaft, and a tapered. plug. mounted: on the:end of the drive shaft adjacent the race; for rota;- tion Wilihz saiddrive; shaft. said; plug: extending into the; race: and being: adapted:ta engage: the central; bore. of; a. bearing: to; be:- cleaned: and tohold. said bearing in contact with the: conical race.

5. A bearing; cleanericomprising. combinestion,, a; cylinder, at flaredconical; race; on. one end. of said cylinden. a piston. movable;longistudinally. in said' cylinder, a: tubular: piston rod extendingfrom said: piston. through: the end; of f the cylinder opposite saidrace, a drive". shaftmounted for axial rotation; within. said; cylinderand terminating at one; and adjacent: the race interengaging. means the:cylinder and. drive shaft for restricting their: relative. longitudinal.displacement, a portion of:.said: drive shaftslidje ablyengaging thebore of said: tubular piston rod, spiral means slidably connecting saidpiston rod and said driveshaft. whereby. longitudinal movement of thepiston. rod. causes: a'xi'all rota:- tion of said drive shaftand:bearingsengaging means mounted. on the: end of: the: drive shaft 7adjacent the race for: rotation with: said: drive shaft, saidbearingeengaging. means extending. into the race :andlbeing': adaptedto: hold ahearing in: contact with. the conical race.

6. A bearing. cleaner comprising. inlcombinae tion, a cylinder, aflared:conicahraceiononeend of said cylinder; apistonmovablelongitudinally in' said cylinder; a. piston rod. forreciprocating the piston. within. said cylinder, a: drive shaft mounted:foraxial rotation; within said cylinder and termnating: at one end:adjacent. the; race; interengaging means: on the cylinder and. driveshaft for restricting their relative-longitudinal displacement, a.portioniof said drive: shaft hav-- ing: spiral means-thereon; guidemeans slidably; connecting: said piston rod and the spiral per tion ofsaid drive= shaft; whereby longitudinal movement of the piston rodcaus'es 'axi'al rotation of said: driveshaft, and bearing-engaging meansmounted on the end o't'th'e drive s'liaft adjacent the race for rotationwith said driveshaft; said bearing-engagingmeans extending inte the:race and being adapted to'hold abeari'ng in contact with the conicalrace;

7 A hearing cleaner comprising," in combina-- tion, a cylinder;a'flaredconical racesecured de tachably on oneend" of said cylinder; apiston movable longitudinally in-said cylinder; a tubular piston rod forreciprocating the pistor'iwithin said cylinder, a drive shaft mountedfor axial rotationwithin said cylinder and terminating at one endadjacenttherac'e, interengaging means on the cylinder and drive shaftfor restricting their relativelongitudi'nal displacement; a portion ofsaid drive shaft slidably engaging the bore of said tubular piston rodand having sprial means thereon, guide means slidably connecting saidpiston rod and the spiral portion of said drive shaft, wherebylongitudinal movement of the piston rod causes axial rotation of saiddrive shaft, and bearing-engaging means mounted on 7 the end of thedrive shaft adjacent the race for rotation with said drive shaft, saidbearing-engaging means extending into the race and being adapted to holda bearing in contact with the conical race.

8. A bearing cleaner comprising, in combination, a cylinder, a flaredconical race on one end of said cylinder, a piston movablelongitudinally in said cylinder, a piston rod for reciprocating thepiston within said cylinder, a drive shaft mounted for axial rotationwithin said cylinder and terminating at one end adjacent the race,interengaging means on the cylinder and drive shaft for restrictingtheir relative longitudinal displacement, spiral means slidablyconnecting said piston rod and said drive shaft, whereby longitudinalmovement of the piston rod causes axial rotation of said drive shaft,and bearingengaging means mounted on the end of the drive shaft'adjacentthe race for rotation with said drive shaft, said bearing-engaging meansextending into the race and being adapted to hold a bearing in contactwith the conical race, said race being apertured to permit the passageof cleaning fluid therethrough.

9. A bearing cleaner comprising, in combination, a cylinder, a flaredconical race secured detachably on one end of said cylinder, a pistonmovable longitudinally in said cylinder, a piston rod for reciprocatingthe piston Within said cylinder, a drive shaft mounted removably foraxial rotation within said cylinder and race, interengaging means on thecylinder and drive shaft for restricting their relative longitudinaldisplacement, spiral means slidably connecting said piston rod and saiddrive shaft, whereby longitudinal movement of the piston rod causesaxial rotation of said drive shaft, and a tapered plug mounteddetachably on the end of the drive shaft adjacent the race for rotationWith'said drive shaft, said plug extending into the race and beingadapted to engage a bearing to be cleaned and to hold said bearing incontact with the conical race, said race being apertured to permit thepassage of cleaning fluid therethrough.

10. A bearing cleaner comprising, in combination, a cylinder, a flaredconical race on one end of said cylinder, a piston movablelongitudinally in said cylinder, 2. piston rod for reciprocating thepiston within said cylinder, a drive shaft mounted for axial rotationwithin said cylinder and terminating at one end adjacent the race,interengaging means on the cylinder and drive shaft for restrictingtheir relative longitudinal displacement, spiral means slidablyconnecting said piston rod and said drive shaft, whereby longitudinalmovement of the piston rod causes axial rotation of said drive shaft,bearing-engaging means mounted on the end of the drive shaft adjacentthe race for rotation with said drive shaft, said bearing-engaging meansextending into the race and being adapted to hold a bearing in contactwith the conical race, and a shield surrounding and extending beyond thebase of said conical race, said shield being apertured to permit thepassage of cleaning fluid ,therethrough.

tion, a cylinder, a flared conical race on one end of said cylinder,piston means movable longitudinally in said cylinder, a drive shaftmounted for axial rotation within said cylinder and terminating at oneend adjacent the race, interengaging means on the cylinder and driveshaft for restricting their relative longitudinal displacement, meansslidably connecting said piston means and drive shaft in such mannerthat longitudinal movement of the piston means causes axial rotation ofsaid drive shaft, and bearing-engaging means mounted on the end of thedrive shaft adjacent the race for rotation'with said. drive shaft, thebearing-engaging means extending into the race and adapted to hold abearing in contact with the conical race.

12. A bearing cleaner comprising, in combination, a cylinder, a flaredconical race on one end of said cylinder, a drive shaft mounted foraxial rotation within said cylinder and terminating at one end adjacentthe race, interengaging means on the cylinder and drive shaft forrestricting their relative longitudinal displacement, bearing-engagingmeans mounted on the end of the drive shaft adjacent the race forrotation with said drive shaft, the bearing-engaging means extendinginto the race and adapted to hold a bearing in contact with the conicalrace, pump means for forcing cleaning fluid into and out of the cylinderpast the bearing to be cleaned, and means interconnecting the pump meansand drive shaft, in such manner that the drive shaft is rotated byactuation of the pump means.

13, A bearing cleaner comprising, in combination, reciprocating fluidpump means open at one end for passage of cleaning fluid to and fromsaid pump, a flared conical race on the pump means surrounding the saidopening, a drive shaft mounted in flxed longitudinal relation with theconical race for axial rotation on the axis of the conical race andterminating at one end adjacent the race, bearing-engaging means mountedon the end of the drive shaft adjacent the'race for rotation with thedrive shaft, the

bearing-engaging means extending into the race and being adapted to holda bearing in contact with the race, and means interconnecting the pumpmeans and drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft by actuation of thepump means.

CARL D. SCHUCHMAN. RICHARD S. FRANCE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 136,423 Dick Mar. 4, 1873 422,049 Carter Feb. 25, 18901,082,313 Freiborg Dec. 23, 1913 1,335,912 Olson Apr. 6, 1920 1,477,068Magann Dec. 11, 1923 1,814,592 Geiger July 14, 1931 1,963,563 Slepicka 1June 19, 1934 2,027,116 Oubridge Jan. 7, 1936 2,137,660 Welke Nov. 22,1938 2,369,498 Steuber Feb. 13, 1945

